COMMERCE/SANCTIONS/SYRIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/TURKEY: “President Donald Trump on Monday [10-14-19] signed an executive order imposing ‘powerful’ sanctions against Turkey for its incursion into northeast Syria. The White House announced that tariffs on steel imports from Turkey will double, reverting to 50 percent from 25 percent. Trump imposed a tariff hike on Turkey last year after the country held Andrew Brunson, an American pastor who was living in Turkey, on charges of espionage. The executive order also stated the Commerce Department would suspend negotiations on an unknown trade deal worth $100 billion. The White House and Commerce Department have declined to comment on the deal. Trump has come under fire from swaths of lawmakers, including fellow Republicans, for his decision to pull U.S. troops from the war-torn region. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement on Monday he is ‘gravely concerned’ about the U.S. response to Turkey’s attacks on Kurdish allies in Syria.”
–Evan Semones, “Trump authorizes sanctions on Turkey over actions in Syria,” Politico, October 14, 2019 4:46 pm